June 11, 2012

Run for Virginia Wine

Last weekend I ran a half-marathon, this weekend I have done very little other than sleep...well I did have a 6 hour meeting with 4 hours of driving yesterday for the union but overall it has been a "take it easy" weekend. I guess my body is letting me know what it needs. I am now among the ranks of the half marathon finishers. My time was not as fast as I might have liked but I finished and now I have conquered the hardest part -- the mental struggle of whether or not I can do it. And I have already set a goal for my next one...with just 13 weeks it might be a little lofty but look I was even smiling during my last race... I credit that to Jeff Galloway. The race organizers had a wine reception on Thursday night before the race and as soon as I walked in and mentioned to the woman checking me in that I was going to run walk the race, she dragged me over to Mr. Galloway and left us to chat about race tactics. He asked a few questions about my training and then proposed a plan that was radically different than what I had planned on doing. I was sceptical but who am I to argue with a former Olympian? So, I took his advice and while I was pretty tired on Saturday night and just wanted to stay off my feet, by Monday when I met with my trainer I felt pretty much recovered and didn't feel at all affected by Tuesday.

Now I just need to figure out how to run it a whole lot faster, the first 5 minutes can be made up but not stopping for the bathroom (something I did for my friend P. who was wonderful about running with me despite her ability to keep a much faster pace), the other minute and 13 seconds that I would like to take off my pace time will be all training. With 13 weeks until Labor Day, it started this morning. Will I continue with the Galloway run/walk method? That remains to be seen, I started his book during my lunch break today.